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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: Perennial bunchgrass 18 inches to
2 feet tall.
Occurrence An introduction from South Africa that has become well
established on some ranges and along roads, principally in Graham, Pima,
and Cochise counties. This grass has proved to be best adapted to elevations
from 3,000 to 4,500 feet. Forage Value The greatest forage value of this grass lies in its ability
to remain green late in the fall, and to green up early in the spring.
Even though growth is rapid during the summer months, the plants are
grazed lightly at that time except where there is a lack of native forage.
During the spring months it provides good forage and is taken in preference
to the dry native grasses. Lehmann lovegrass has proved to be the introduced grass best adapted to reseeding southern Arizona ranges. Although easy to establish on adapted sites, it is a special-purpose grass rather than a remedy for all range ills. It is usually most valuable as a forage species during the spring. Where it occurs in nearly pure stands over large areas, these units can be fenced and managed for summer use. In this way, native grass ranges may be deferred during the critical summer growing season.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona